West Sussex · London and the South East
Flat roof survey in Cross Gate, West Sussex
Flat roof surveys in Cross Gate and the rest of West Sussex. We survey on weekdays and at weekends.
- Damaged trims at the roof edge
- Pools of water lying on the roof
- Dips that suggest the deck is deflecting
How the survey works
We work from the outside in: outside views come first, then the roof space if there is safe access. In total, it takes about one to two hours for a small flat roof at home, and longer for a large commercial one. For a village or hamlet like Cross Gate, the journey is planned beforehand: let us know about lanes, gates and parking. The roof is looked at from ground level, from windows, from the loft where there is safe access and from the roof where it is safe.
- You let us know about the roof, its covering if you know it, and any leaks.
- We look at the roof from wherever it can safely be seen.
- The covering, falls, upstands, outlets, edge trims and rooflights are checked and photographed.
- Where there’s safe access, we check the ceilings and spaces below for signs of water.
- We send a written report with photos, the defects we found and what we recommend.
Preparing for the visit
- For flats, check roof access has been agreed
- Note where any stains or damp appear
- Buyers: confirm access with the estate agent or seller
Book a survey
Not sure which survey you need? The easiest way is to ring 07833 053749 or send us an email and describe the roof and why you want it surveyed. We’ll explain the options and the price.
Advice
Flat roof surveys for homes and businesses in Cross Gate
A flat roof leak often travels before it shows on the ceiling. It can run along the deck from a split, an open lap or a failed upstand some distance away. Our survey covers the whole roof, not just the part above the mark, and photograph anything that could let water in. A roofer can then start from a clear picture of the problem. Typical surveys look at leaks around rooflights and cracked or split membrane, across single-ply membranes, upstands and outlets and felt flat roofs.
In a village or hamlet like Cross Gate, flat roofs are usually on extensions, garages, outbuildings or barn conversions. The checks are the same as anywhere: outlets, upstands, edges and the covering itself. We simply plan the journey and access in advance. If there are outbuildings or garages with flat roofs, mention them as you book.
Where we cannot see part of the flat roof, the report says so. You’ll know exactly what was inspected and what wasn’t, and what we’d suggest next.
- Location
- Cross Gate (BN18)
- Wider area
- West Sussex
- Prices
- From £150 inc. VAT
- Your report
- Emailed report with photos and recommendations
- Survey days
- Weekdays, Saturdays and Sundays
- Insured
- Professional indemnity and public liability
- Phone
- 07833 053749
- Updated
- 27 October 2026
Cross Gate questions
Is Cross Gate in the area you cover?
Yes, Cross Gate is within the area we cover. Our area covers London and the South East. You can ring 07833 053749 or email us with the address and some details, and we will talk through which survey suits.
Does a conservation area affect roof work in Cross Gate?
Start with Historic England’s list for listing and your council for conservation areas. It’s worth checking before planning roof work, as both can affect what’s allowed.
How do you inspect a flat roof?
It depends on what’s safe: the roof itself where that’s safe, plus windows, vantage points and the rooms below. Fragile rooflights and fragile sheets are never walked on.
Will this cover the whole house?
No. We look closely at the flat roof rather than the whole building. It complements a RICS home survey rather than replacing it, and it is not a structural engineer’s report.
Do you survey roofs on blocks of flats?
Yes. A shared roof needs access agreed first. Let us know about it when you book and we’ll plan the survey around it.
What’s the best way to book?
Just phone 07833 053749 or drop us an email. After a few questions, we confirm the price and fix a day.
What do I do with the report?
You receive the written report by email, with photographs and recommendations. You can use it to talk to a seller, an insurer, a roofer or a managing agent, whichever applies.
Practical tips
Some practical points come up on survey after survey. They’re worth knowing whatever the roof:
- File the paperwork for the roof and any repairs
- Ask whoever fits equipment on the roof to make good the covering
- Note any new marks on ceilings beneath the roof
- Ask contractors to protect the roof if they work on it
You get the report by email and can pass it to a roofer, your solicitor, the seller or your managing agent. It’s written in plain English, with a photo of each defect, so others can follow it without going up to look.
Book a survey every few years, and again after new fixings, units or rooflights go in. That catches changes early and builds up a record of the roof.
Flat roof surveys around Cross Gate
With Parham House about 1.1 miles east, Cross Gate sits in an area with a long building history. Older homes in the wider area frequently have features worth a closer look, such as lead valleys, tall stacks and roofs that have been patched over the years, and a listed home or one in a conservation area may need consent for changes of material. Older houses across Sussex often have handmade clay tiles, and many have tile-hanging on their upper walls. A few old Sussex buildings still carry heavy Horsham stone slabs. Flat roofs fill the gaps in between, on extensions, garages, dormers and business premises.
If you own a rental within reach of Amberley station, the flat roof over a let home is worth a look before it becomes a tenant complaint. If you look after a building like Amberley CofE Primary School, ponding and blocked outlets on a wide flat roof are worth catching before the next wet season.
Cross Gate is about 7 miles north of Littlehampton, in West Sussex. We carry out flat roof surveys for homeowners, landlords and businesses in Cross Gate and the surrounding area. Cross Gate is one of the places in West Sussex we cover. We also survey roofs in Brighton.
Here we cover the BN18 postcode area for flat roof surveys. Neighbouring places we cover for flat roof surveys include Rackham (1 mile east), Amberley (1 mile south-west), Bury (2 miles west), Coldwaltham (2 miles north-west) and Watersfield (2 miles north-west). Further out, we also cover Horsham (14 miles north-east), Worthing (8 miles south-east), Bognor Regis (11 miles south-west), Chichester (12 miles south-west), Littlehampton (7 miles south) and Shoreham-by-Sea (12 miles south-east).
Local landmarks in Cross Gate
Locally, jobs take us to homes and businesses close to Parham Park and the streets around them. For rail, the closest station is Amberley station, about 1.5 miles south-west of the centre. Well-known places in the area include Amberley Museum (1.4 miles south-west) and Amberley Castle (1 mile west). Not far away are Bignor Hill and Amberley Wild Brooks.
Checking the roof from ground level
The one thing to avoid is getting up close. Roofs are fragile and slippery, and falls from height are serious. That part is for a survey.
During heavy rain, look at the gutters from the ground or a window. Overflowing water can point to a blockage or a sagging run.
Also near Cross Gate
Also in Cross Gate
Signs you need a flat roof survey in Cross Gate
People go onto flat roofs for all sorts of reasons: cleaning windows, fitting aerials or air conditioning, or clearing gutters. A covering that wasn’t designed for foot traffic can crack or puncture. Fixings added through the covering often start leaks too.
Problems we come across frequently include:
- Signs of deflection in the roof deck
- Loose or cracked edge trims
- Failed seals around rooflight kerbs
- Blisters and bubbles in the covering
For an older house near a landmark such as The Parish Church of St Michael and All Angels, the flat roofs on later extensions tend to wear out long before the main roof.
Before you book anyone
- Whether VAT is added on top
- How they plan to inspect the roof safely
- Whether the loft is part of the inspection
- What they will not be able to tell you
For landlords and managing agents
An agent can book and manage the survey for a landlord, and the report can go to both. Access is agreed with the tenant ahead of time.
With a portfolio of properties, you can book surveys for several addresses. To discuss a number of properties, call 07833 053749 or send us an email with the addresses.
Different roofs, different checks
Mastic asphalt
Without seams, asphalt tends to fail through cracking and at its skirtings. Our report notes crazing, cracks and any likely entry points.
Felt and built-up roofs
Built-up felt is one of the most common flat roof coverings on extensions, garages and dormers. We look for blistering, cracking, split laps and worn mineral surfacing.